Defeated for the first time by Manchester United, a moribund Manuel Pellegrini arrived at his post-match inquest in Old Trafford's hushed press conference room prepared with his straight bat.

Curve balls were thrown at the Chilean. Did he question himself? Did he fear missing out on the top four? Was his position under threat? Had Yaya Toure shown a 'dereliction of duty'?

'Important' is Pellegrini's favourite adjective and he used it at least three times during another soporific session, as he batted away with the gloominess of Jonathan Trott.

It should worry City his mood was comparable with 13 months previously, when he sat in the same seat after City had battered United 3-0 at Old Trafford.

City supporters needed Pellegrini to deliver some defiant sound bites, and not just because of their fondness for Roberto Mancini. Instead, they got the same clichés that not only downplayed the significance of their derby defeat but confirmed City were truly devoid of inspiration off the pitch, as well as on it.

City's players prepare for kick-off after conceding again to United

Pellegrini's reticence wasn't a problem when City were scoring more prolifically than Hugh Hefner, however the over-reliance on Mancini's spine, the team's faltering form and his utterly uninspiring demeanour have caused plenty of City fans to turn against him.

A steelier character than he looks, Pellegrini's diplomacy and tranquility is an antidote to the abrasive and candid Mancini. Joey Barton remarked how, as City struggled on that glorious final day against Queens Park Rangers back in 2012, that Mancini was verbally abusing his players as they threatened to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Pellegrini's animated reaction to Sergio Aguero's opener highlighted the stress and strain of managing City these days. Usually, he reins it in, but occasionally a Swedish referee or Jose Mourinho can get under his skin and he found it impossible to mask the respite Aguero's tap-in dealt him.

The fans are not demanding a return to the blinkered passion of Stuart Pearce or the aggrieved siege mentality of Mark Hughes, but their current antipathy is not dissimilar to what United fans experienced when David Moyes managed them.

"Let's put David James up front."

Whereas Mancini broke bread with the Manchester press pack at San Carlo, Pellegrini has eschewed such pleasantries with the local media. Some of the north west football writers are so demoralised by Pellegrini's rhetoric they do not even bother with his pre-match press conferences.

The only occasion he has reached out to English journalists was during a lengthy conversation with two writers based in Spain, conducted in his native tongue. Even then, though, Pellegrini was not particularly enlightening and busied himself making excuses. City supporters are desperate for some charisma.

With six games remaining, Pellegrini is unlikely to focus on the most drastic image makeover since Brendan Rodgers' pearly whites. His actions can speak louder than words, though and he should start by dropping Yaya Toure.

One of the quandaries Pellegrini has faced this term is the alternatives to his underperformers have been about as inspiring as a political broadcast. Some players have had more lives than a cat under their manager.

Toure was woeful at Old Trafford

Pellegrini has wasted Frank Lampard since he signed a contract extension, though.

Lampard would relish starting against West Ham for numerous reasons and he showed more energy warming up and bantering with United's supporters in the south stand than Toure did against Marouane Fellaini.

Toure, Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko could be the figureheads for the summer overhaul. One United season ticket holder of nearly four decades remarked how he had never seen a player look less bothered warming up than Dzeko on Sunday, while Nasri was so anonymous as a substitute he might as well have stayed on the bench.

Blooding youngsters at this stage would be hazardous and City boast enough experience to qualify for the Champions League while in the midst of a cull. Fitness permitting, Saturday should be the true start of Wilfried Bony's City career and the same could apply to Fernando.